Hydraulic energy translating device

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic energy translating device of the peripherally expansible working chamber type in which one side plate cooperating with the cam and rotor to form one end of the working chambers is secured in a fixed position by the housing. Another side plate is rotatably mounted in the housing and is movable to close the other end of the working chambers. The movable side plate is urged into closing relationship with the working chambers when fluid pressure is developed in the high pressure circuit and is moved away from the working chambers to permit exhausting thereof when the high pressure circuit is exhausted.

United States Patent [191 Hause 11 3,713,757 51 Jan. 30, 1973 HYDRAULICENERGY TRANSLATING DEVICE Primary Examiner-Carlton R. Croyle AssistantExaminerRichard E. Gluck A!t0rney-W. E. Finken, A. M. Heiter and D. F.Scherer [57] ABSTRACT A hydraulic energy translating device of theperipherally expansible working chamber type in which one side platecooperating with the cam and rotor to form one end of the workingchambers is secured in a fixed position by the housing. Another sideplate is rotatably mounted in the housing and is movable to close theother end of the working chambers. The movable side plate is urged intoclosing relationship with the working chambers when fluid pressure isdeveloped in the high pressure circuit and is moved away from theworking chambers to permit exhausting thereof when the high pressurecircuit is exhausted.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAIZJO I913 3.713.757

1 VEYTOR.

A TTORNEY HYDRAULIC ENERGY TRANSLATING DEVICE This invention relates tohydraulic energy translating devices and more particularly to hydraulicenergy translating devices in which the working chambers are connecteddirectly with the low pressure chambers when the high pressure circuitis exhausted.

The present invention is disclosed in a hydraulic wheel motor which isused to provide an auxiliary drive on the steerable wheels of a vehicle.This drive is generally used at low vehicle speeds in off highwayoperation. To permit more efficient operation of the vehicle at higherhighway speeds it is desirable to interconnect the high pressure and lowpressure side of the fluid motor when it is inoperable thus reducingfluid flow losses in the motor. The present invention permits therelatively free interchange of fluid between the high pressure workingchambers and the low pressure exhaust chambers of a vane type motor byincorporating a movable side plate. The side plate is urged intoabutment-with the cam portion of the vane motor when the inlet or highpressure circuit is activated to provide a seal between the inlet andoutlet expansible chambers of the vane motor. When the high pressurecircuit is not operable the side plate is moved away from the cam memberby pressure developed in the high pressure chambers to permit the freeinterchange of fluid between the inlet and outlet chambers of the vanemotor.

It is an object of this invention to provide in an improved hydraulicenergy translating device a vane type fluid unit having a cam member anda rotor member one of which is secured and the other is drivinglyconnected to a drive shaft and one side plate that is mova- -ble toprevent or permit the free interchange of fluid between the highpressure and low pressure chambers .of the vane unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a hydraulic pump/motorhaving a fixed cam member and a rotatable rotor member drivinglyconnected to a drive shaft through a planetary gearing unit, a movableside plate selectively controlled by the high pressure circuit toprevent fluid communication between the high pressure and low pressureworking chambers of the vane unit only when the high pressure circuit ispressurized.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bemore apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional elevational view of a hydraulic unit;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an end view showing the fluid passages in the hydraulic unit.

Referring to the drawings and particularly, FIG. 1, there is shown ahydraulic wheel motor generally designated having a housing portion 12integral with or otherwise secured to wheel mounting supports 14 and 16.The housing 12 has a pair of fluid supply passages 18 and 20 formedtherein which communicate fluid to feed chambers 22 and 24,respectively. The passage 18 is also in fluid communication with acontrol chamber 26 formed by the housing 12 and a movable side plate 28.A ball check valve, generally designated 29', including a'ball 30, aseat 32 formed in the housing 12 and a stop member 34 is disposedbetween the passage 18 and the chamber 26. The ball check 29 permits thefree flow of fluid from passage 18 to chamber 26, but prevents reverseflow from the chamber 26. The passage 18 is also in fluid communicationvia a passage 36 and a ball check generally designated 38 with anexhaust passage 40. The passage 20 is in fluid communication with thecontrol chamber 26 through a ball check 42 similar in construction toball check 29 and via passage 44 through ball check 46 with the exhaustpassage 40. The ball check 42 permits free flow from passage 20 tochamber 26 but, prevents reverse flow. The feed chamber 22 is in fluidcommunication with a plurality of peripherally spaced chambers 48through an annular passage 50 formed in a cam member 52. The feedchamber 24 is in fluid communication with a plurality of peripherallyspaced chambers 54 via an annular passage 56 formed in the cam member52.

The cam member 52 is secured in the housing 12 by an end cover 58threaded in the housing 12 and positioned therein by a locking plate 60and a fastener 62. The cam 52 is pinned to a ring gear 64 by a pin 66which ring gear 64 is positioned against the cam 52 by the cover 58 andhas an inwardly extending radial hub portion 68 forming a fixed sideplate for the hydraulic unit 10.

The ring gear 64 is a member in a planetary gear set generallydesignated 70 which also includes a planet carrier 72 drivinglyconnected to a drive shaft 74 and rotatably mounting a plurality ofpiniongears 76 which mesh with the ring gear 64 and a sun gear 78. Thesun gear 78 has a circumferential extension which is drivingly connectedto a spline 80 on a rotor 82 which is rotatably mounted in the housing12 circumjacent the cam 52 between the side plates 28 and 68. The sungear 78 is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft 74 by a bushing 84 andthe drive shaft 74 is rotatably mounted in the housing 12 in the cover58 by roller bearings 86 and 88 respectively. The drive shaft 74includes a mounting surface 90 adapted to receive a drive wheel and aplurality of fasteners 92 adapted to secure the drive wheel to the shaft74.

The rotor 82 has a plurality of slots 94 each having a vane 96 slidablydisposed therein which vanes 96 are extended radially outwardly by fluidpressure and centrifugal force into abutment with the inner surface ofcam 52 to provide a plurality of fluid chambers such as 98 between therotor 82 and the cam 52. The side plates 28 and 68 cooperate with thecam 52 and rotor 82 to close the ends of fluid chambers 98.

As seen in FIG. 2 the cam 52 has three lobes 100 which are adjacent thechambers 48 and 54. It will be appreciated that as the rotor 82 rotates,the chambers 98 will pass the chambers 48 and 54 to be filled with fluidat one chamber such as 48 and exhaust fluid at the other chamber such as54 depending upon the rotational direction of the rotor 82. If, forexample, high pressure fluid is supplied through passage 18 the chamber48 will be pressurized thereby causing the rotor 52 to rotate in aclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, and the field in the chamber98 adjacent chamber 54 will be directed to exhaust via passage 20. Iffluid pressure is supplied via passage 20, the rotor82 will locate in acounterclockwise direction.

When the passage 18 is pressurized fluid pressure will also be fedthrough ball check 29 to the control chamber 26 to move the side plate28 into abutment with the cam 52 thereby cooperating with the vanemembers 96 to provide a seal between the adjacent chambers 98. The ballcheck 42 .will prevent fluid flow from the chamber 26 to exhaust. Thehigh pressure fluid in control chamber 26 will also bedirected viapassage 102 and annular groove 103 to the underside of the vanes 96 tourge them outward against the cam 52. Since it is virtually impossibleto prevent some leakage from a rotating type vane motor such as thatdisclosed herein, the leakage fluid is directed via exhaust passage 40through ball check 38 or 46 to the passage 18 and respectively whicheverof the passages 18 or 20 is operating as the low pressure passage atthat moment. If both passages 18 and 20 are exhausted and fluid pressureis developed in the chambers 98 through the rotation of the rotor 52being driven by the drive shaft 74 through the planetary gearing 70, thepressure so developed in the chambers 98 will move the side plate 28axially relative to the drive shaft 74 away from the cam member 52thereby permitting the free interchange of fluid between the chambers98. When the side plate 28 has moved the pressure in chambers 98 willdecrease substantially to reduce the flow losses in the motor 10.

The planetary gear set 70 is incorporated to provide a speed reductionbetween the rotor 82 and the drive shaft 74 when the wheel motor isbeing operated. The ring gear 64 is stationary, and therefore provides areaction member, so that as the sun gear 78 is driven by the rotor 82,the carrier 72 will be driven at a reduced speed to drive the driveshaft 74.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic energy translating device comprising: astationaryhousing; a cam member secured to said housing; a rotor member; vanemeans slidably disposed in said rotor member and being movable to abutsaid cam member to form a plurality of workingchambers; shaft meansdrivingly connected with said rotor member; side plate means located insaid housing for closing said working chambers including slidable sideplate means slidably disposed in said housing means and being movableaxiallyrelative to said shaft means to selectively close the workingchambers; control chamber means formed between said slidable side platemeans and housing; first fluid passage means for selectivelycommunicating fluid to and from said working chambers; second fluidpassage means for selectively communicating fluid to and from saidworking chambers; control valve means in said first fluid passage meansfor directing fluid communicating to said control chamber means whensaid first fluid passage means is communicating fluid pressure to saidworking chambers; said slidable side plate means being moved to opensaid working chambers to permit free interchange of fluid between saidfirst and second fluid passage means when said first and second fluidpassage means are exhausted to prevent pressure development in saidworking chambers.

2. A hydraulic motor comprising: a stationary housing; cam means securedin said housing including fluid passages therein; a rotor rotatablymounted on said housing within said cam means; vane means slidablydisposed in said rotor and being movable to abut said cam means to forma plurality of working chambers; sun gear means drivingly connected withsaid rotor; fixed side plate means located in said housing meansabutting said cam means and said rotor to close one side of the workingchambers; ring gear means secured to said fixed side plate means;carrier means having pinion gear means meshing with said sun and ringgear means; output drive shaft means drivingly connected with saidcarrier means; slidable side plate means slidably disposed in saidhousing means and being movable into and out of abutting relation withsaid cam means and said rotor to selectively close the other side of theworking chambers and including feed passage means aligned with the innerend of said vane means in said rotor; control chamber means formedbetween said slidable side plate means and housing; first supply passagemeans for communicating high pressure fluid to and directing exhaustpressure fluid from one of said passages in said cam means; secondsupply passage means for communicating high pressure fluid to anddirecting exhaust pressure fluid from another of said passagesin saidcam means; first control valve means in said first passage means fordirecting fluid pressure to said control chamber means when said firstsupply passage means is pressurized and for preventing fluidcommunication from said control chamber means when said second supplypassage means is pressurized; and second control valve means in saidsecond supply passage means for directing fluid pressure to said controlchamber means when said second supply passage means is pressurized andfor preventing fluid communication from said control chamber means whensaid first supply passage means is pressurized; said slidable side platemeans being moved out of abutment with said cam means and said rotorwhen both of said first and second supply passage means are exhausted toprevent pressure development in said working chambers.

3. A hydraulic energy translating device comprising: a stationaryhousing; cam means secured in said housing including fluid passagestherein; a rotor rotatably mounted on said housing within said cammeans; vane" means slidably disposed in said rotor and being movable toabut said cam means to form a plurality of working chambers; a shaftmember drivingly connected with said rotor; fixed side plate meanslocated in said housing means abutting said cam means and said rotor toclose one side of the working chambers; slidable side plate meansslidably disposed in said housing and being movable into and out ofabutting relation with said cam means and said rotor to selectivelyclose the other side of the working chambers and including-feed passagemeans aligned with the inner end of said vane means in said rotor;control chamber means formed between said slidable side plate means andhousing; first supply passage means for communicating fluid to and fromone of said passages in said cam means and to said working chambermeans; second supply passage means for communicating fluid to and fromanother of said passages in said cam means and to said working chambermeans; first control valve means in said first supply passage means forpreventing fluid communicating from said control chamber means when thefluid pressure in said second supply passage means is higher than thefluid pressure in said first supply passage means; and second controlvalve means in said second supply passage means for preventing fluidcommunication from said control chamber means when the fluid pressure insaid first supply passage means is higher than the fluid pressure insaid second supply passage means; said slidable side plate means beingmoved out of abutment with said cam means and said rotor when both ofsaid first and second supply passage means are exhausted to preventpressure development in said working chambers.

4. A hydraulic energy translating device comprising: a stationaryhousing; cam means secured in said housing including fluid passagestherein; a rotor rotatably mounted on said housing within said cammeans; vane means slidably disposed in said rotor and being movable toabut said cam means to form a plurality of working chambers; a shaftmember drivingly connected with said rotor; fixed side plate meanslocated in said. housing means abutting said cam means and said rotor toclose one side of the working chambers; slidable side plate meansslidably disposed in said housing and being movable into and out ofabutting relation with said cam means and said rotor to selectivelyclose the other side of the working chambers and including feed passagemeans aligned with the inner end of said vane means in said rotor;control chamber means formed between said slidable side plate means andhousing; first supply passage means for communicating fluid to and fromone of said passages in said cam means and to said working chambermeans; second supply passage means for communicating fluid to and fromanother of said passages in said cam means and to said working chambermeans; control valve means in one of said supply passage means forpreventing fluid flow from said control chamber means when the fluidpressure in the other of said supply passage means is higher than thefluid pressure in said one supply passage means; said slidable sideplate means being moved axially out of abutment with said cam means andsaid rotor when both of said first and second supply passage means areexhausted to prevent pressure development in said working chambers.

1. A hydraulic energy translating device comprising: a stationaryhousing; a cam member secured to said housing; a rotor member; vanemeans slidably disposed in said rotor member and being movable to abutsaid cam member to form a plurality of working chambers; shaft meansdrivingly connected with said rotor member; side plate means located insaid housing for closing said working chambers including slidable sideplate means slidably disposed in said housing means and being movableaxially relative to said shaft means to selectively close the workingchambers; control chamber means formed between said slidable side platemeans and housing; first fluid passage means for selectivelycommunicating fluid to and from said working chambers; second fluidpassage means for selectively communicating fluid to and from saidworking chambers; control valve means in said first fluid passage meansfor directing fluid communicating to said control chamber means whensaid first fluid passage means is communicating fluid pressure to saidworking chambers; said slidable side plate means being moved to opensaid working chambers to permit free interchange of fluid between saidfirst and second fluid passage means when said first and second fluidpassage means are exhausted to prevent pressure development in saidworking chambers.
 1. A hydraulic energy translating device comprising: astationary housing; a cam member secured to said housing; a rotormember; vane means slidably disposed in said rotor member and beingmovable to abut said cam member to form a plurality of working chambers;shaft means drivingly connected with said rotor member; side plate meanslocated in said housing for closing said working chambers includingslidable side plate means slidably disposed in said housing means andbeing movable axially relative to said shaft means to selectively closethe working chambers; control chamber means formed between said slidableside plate means and housing; first fluid passage means for selectivelycommunicating fluid to and from said working chambers; second fluidpassage means for selectively communicating fluid to and from saidworking chambers; control valve means in said first fluid passage meansfor directing fluid communicating to said control chamber means whensaid first fluid passage means is communicating fluid pressure to saidworking chambers; said slidable side plate means being moved to opensaid working chambers to permit free interchange of fluid between saidfirst and second fluid passage means when said first and second fluidpassage means are exhausted to prevent pressure development in saidworking chambers.
 2. A hydraulic motor comprising: a stationary housing;cam means secured in said housing including fluid passages therein; arotor rotatably mounted on said housing within said cam means; vanemeans slidably disposed in said rotor and being movable to abut said cammeans to form a plurality of working chambers; sun gear means drivinglyconnected with said rotor; fixed side plate means located in saidhousing means abutting said cam means and said rotor to close one sideof the working chambers; ring gear means secured to said fixed sideplate means; carrier means having pinion gear means meshing with saidsun and ring gear means; output drive shaft means drivingly connectedwith said carrier means; slidable side plate means slidably disposed insaid housing means and being movable into and out of abutting relationwith said cam means and said rotor to selectively close the other sideof the working chambers and including feed passaGe means aligned withthe inner end of said vane means in said rotor; control chamber meansformed between said slidable side plate means and housing; first supplypassage means for communicating high pressure fluid to and directingexhaust pressure fluid from one of said passages in said cam means;second supply passage means for communicating high pressure fluid to anddirecting exhaust pressure fluid from another of said passages in saidcam means; first control valve means in said first passage means fordirecting fluid pressure to said control chamber means when said firstsupply passage means is pressurized and for preventing fluidcommunication from said control chamber means when said second supplypassage means is pressurized; and second control valve means in saidsecond supply passage means for directing fluid pressure to said controlchamber means when said second supply passage means is pressurized andfor preventing fluid communication from said control chamber means whensaid first supply passage means is pressurized; said slidable side platemeans being moved out of abutment with said cam means and said rotorwhen both of said first and second supply passage means are exhausted toprevent pressure development in said working chambers.
 3. A hydraulicenergy translating device comprising: a stationary housing; cam meanssecured in said housing including fluid passages therein; a rotorrotatably mounted on said housing within said cam means; vane meansslidably disposed in said rotor and being movable to abut said cam meansto form a plurality of working chambers; a shaft member drivinglyconnected with said rotor; fixed side plate means located in saidhousing means abutting said cam means and said rotor to close one sideof the working chambers; slidable side plate means slidably disposed insaid housing and being movable into and out of abutting relation withsaid cam means and said rotor to selectively close the other side of theworking chambers and including feed passage means aligned with the innerend of said vane means in said rotor; control chamber means formedbetween said slidable side plate means and housing; first supply passagemeans for communicating fluid to and from one of said passages in saidcam means and to said working chamber means; second supply passage meansfor communicating fluid to and from another of said passages in said cammeans and to said working chamber means; first control valve means insaid first supply passage means for preventing fluid communicating fromsaid control chamber means when the fluid pressure in said second supplypassage means is higher than the fluid pressure in said first supplypassage means; and second control valve means in said second supplypassage means for preventing fluid communication from said controlchamber means when the fluid pressure in said first supply passage meansis higher than the fluid pressure in said second supply passage means;said slidable side plate means being moved out of abutment with said cammeans and said rotor when both of said first and second supply passagemeans are exhausted to prevent pressure development in said workingchambers.